Russia’s chairmanship at APEC to be based on continuity-minister

November 12, 2011, 14:41 UTC+3Russia wants to “concentrate on topics, connected with transport and logistical supplies”, said Minister for Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina

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HONOLULU, November 12 (Itar-Tass) — Russian intends to spell out the working agenda in the trade and economic sphere, guided by both continuity end national specifics during its chairmanship in the Association of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation next year.

Russian Minister for Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina said this, replying to an Itar-Tass question at a news conference on the results of related ministerial meeting at the APEC forum in Honolulu.

According to the minister, one of the main topics for APEC countries is linked with regional integration and liberalisation of trade and investments. “We shall continue to pursue this topic,” Nabiullina said that one of its aspects can be “involvement of small and medium businesses in the process of investment and trade”. She mentioned “questions on the development of chains of deliveries” in the region in the same context.

Besides, Russia wants to “concentrate on topics, connected with transport and logistical supplies”, said Nabiullina. “It seems to me that Russia cay make its contribution here,” she added. “Incidentally, we can examine transport, coupled with other problems such as energy and energy efficiency, centralised traffic control and use of information technologies.”

The minister called food security another important topic for all APEC countries. “We intend also to develop it, including higher information transparency in food markets,” she stated.

Earlier, Nabiullina’s American colleague Ambassador Ron Kirk expressed confidence at the briefing that Russia will worthily continue US efforts as the APEC chairman. According to Kirk, he is convinced of this by the recent experience of participation in the St. Petersburg economic forum.

True, Kirk refrained from concrete advices to Moscow, saying only with a smile that it is necessary to sleep well before holding ministerial meetings at the APEC.